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Blue Jays-Astros series preview

Toronto won three of four games in Houston last week.

Houston Astros' Jose Altuve, celebrates after scoring from second on an error by Minnesota Twins catcher Juan Centeno in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016 in Minneapolis. (Jim Mone / AP)

The Blue Jays on Friday begin a three-game series vs. the Astros concluding a six-game, seven-day homestand. The Jays are 2-1 on the homestand and 34-25 overall at home. They’re 3-3 with a six-man rotation, since Francisco Liriano’s first start in Kansas City.

Need to know: The Blue Jays are 3-1 against the Astros this year in a series played last week at Minute Maid Park. The Jays outscored the Astros 10-5 in four games. Both teams averaged less than four runs, total, per game in the series. The Jays were 3-4 vs. the Astros last year, including 3-0 at home. The Jays are 14-17 vs. the Astros lifetime (9-4 at Rogers Centre; 5-13 in Houston). Major league batting leader Jose Altuve had four hits for Houston against Minnesota in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday.

Key players: Blue Jays’ CF Melvin Upton, Jr. has gone from a fourth outfielder to starting centre-fielder with injuries to Jose Bautista, Kevin Pillar and Ezequiel Carrera. Carrera is on a rehab option in Buffalo and eligible to return Tuesday. Upton adds a weapon of speed to the Jays’ offence, stealing three bases vs. the Rays on Wednesday. Upton has four home runs and three stolen bases in 13 career games against the Astros. Houston CF Jake Marisnick looks like he will become the regular centre-fielder with the disappointing 30-year-old Carlos Gomez being designated for assignment. Marisnick is a former Jays’ farmhand who was included in the November 2012 mega-deal with the Marlins for Jose Reyes among others. LF Colby Rasmus is on the 15-day DL with vertigo-like symptoms.

On deck: The Jays head onto the road to play the Yankees in the Bronx for three games.

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